MBA success story: Tumpa Das
MBA graduate from the University of Sussex Business School Tumpa Das explains how her decision to move to the UK from India to pursue her studies has led to a successful career as a consultant in London
Tumpa Das already had a flourishing career in microfinance in India before deciding to embark on her MBA at the University of Sussex Business School, located in Brighton, on the UK’s south coast (pictured above). Das explains that the skills acquired on her MBA programme, as well as the live consultancy project she took part in while studying at Sussex, inspired her to consider consultancy as the next step in broadening her career aspirations.
But what led to her move to the UK to pursue an MBA in the first place? “During my research for business schools to pursue an MBA course, I found that the University of Sussex Business School offered one of the best experiences for students” notes Das (pictured left).
“Sussex has a worldwide reputation for proving teaching with leading academic experts. Its MBA course is accredited by global institutions such as AMBA and CMI. This option was also recommended to me by my friends who had previously pursued other degrees at the university.”
However, not only did Tumpa appreciate that the learning and academic experience at Sussex was of an extremely high quality, but through speaking to friends and via her own research, she found that campus life and the support offered to alumni after completion of the course was also exactly what she was looking for.
Once securing her place at Sussex, moving to the UK from India was daunting, but Tumpa found that the school was supportive throughout these challenges. “My course coordinators and the whole Sussex team helped me to overcome my international move with their warm and friendly gestures throughout. They were always approachable and helpful. We celebrated Diwali in the class and that made me feel really included.”
So how did the MBA at Sussex propel her career? Having finished her bachelor of technology degree in 2018, Das began working at a non-profit organisation in India full-time as part of the operations and fundraising team.
From there, she started growing interest in the business and strategy world rather than core software engineering. Having joined WeGrow financial services in October 2019 as a general manager, she was providing micro-loans to the vulnerable population in rural and underdeveloped parts of India.
“I was responsible for strategy analysis through planning, monitoring, identifying potential market risks and updating the existing process flow according to the business objectives” she recalls.
However, to upgrade her career profile and make business and strategy development her core skill, Das says she realised that pursuing an MBA would be the best path for her. “The MBA course helped to develop my strategic and critical thinking; I also accumulated analytical skills to more accurately determine outcomes in our ever-changing business world. Plus, I strengthened my negotiation skills when it comes to arranging a commercial deal.”
The two-week consultancy project that is part of the MBA programme at Sussex also provided Das with hands-on experience and motivated her to pursue a career in consultancy. “Overall, the MBA course will help me to be a more effective and visionary leader in the future” she acknowledges.
